Internationally-renown French-Algerian acoustic guitarist, singer and composer Pierre Bensusan is back in the United States continuing his 40th Anniversary World Concert Tour. Known as the “Mozart of Guitar”, Bensusan is also calling this tour the celebration of a dynamic 35-year association with his longtime guitar-maker Lowden Guitars. His recent international accolades include the Ards International Guitar Festival’s "Lifetime Achievement Award", along with his latest album ENCORE winning the ‘Live Performance Album’ category at the 2014 Independent Music Awards.Listen to Nancy J. Reid & Lisa Smith, Big Blend Radio’s mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine, as they chat with Pierre about his globetrotting musical career and world tour, and his award-winning 3-CD live performance album ENCORE.

This interview originally aired on March 22, 2015, on Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays variety show from the historic Coronado Motor Hotel in Yuma, Arizona.

He has always heard music well and started playing on his own in high school in a small band. He then played throughout medical school in different jazz bands playing piano and bass, and acoustic guitars. He played in various venues in Russia with many accomplished jazz musicians and performed in jam sessions with major horn players and big bands in Moscow.

His most passion always remained in Jazz of 1920’s and 30s. In 2012 Alex assembled his first jazz band Sasha’s Bloc. The first record produce by Joe Diblasi in early 2012 was a collection of Jazz Standards influenced by gipsy jazz.

Sasha’s Bloc enjoyed the success in 60 live performances in the best Jazz clubs in LA.

In the end of 2012 Alex started his work on the original songs and completed the collection in January of 2013 leading to the recording of the first original CD Melancholy.

On February 22nd 2013 Henry Maybury lost his brother Tom Maybury to alcoholism. Although Henry was ultimately destroyed by his brother's passing he decided to use the heartbreaking experience to raise awareness about alcohol abuse.

So what did he do?

He picked up his guitar and used his song writing talents to create a tribute video,for his brother Tom, that has recieved more than 1 million views on You Tube.

Today Henry is here with us to talk about losing his brother to alcoholism, his music and his mission to raise global awareness about the dangers and heartbreak of alcohol abuse and addiction.

Deak Harp is a master of the Mississippi Saxophone - or harmonica as most know it by. Oh, and he can also play guitar with the best of them. He now owns his own business in Clarksdale and ships his custom harmonicas around the globe. Deak and I will explore his life and career and we will share tunes from his album Clarksdale Breakdown.

Mary Hott has spent most of her career in a supporting role, working as a session vocalist in NYC and spending time at Berklee School of Music in Boston Her debut album Shaman Lover is her time to step into the spotlight with help from Billy Thompson on guitar and also as musical director. Mary and I will explore her career and life and share the music from the new album.

Bill Phillippe, is a talented solo acoustic guitarist with stylings from the pre-war blues era. His album, Ghosts, is a collection of originals and songs which Bill has imprinted with his personal stamp. We'll explore his career and the last 20 years of playing all around San Franciso.

Kelly Richey first Sat On The Couch in Dec. 2010 and then again in Feb. 2013. Tonight she wil join me to talk about the new music she is recording and releasing slowly. The album doesn't even have a title yet! We will also talk about her new band, her guitar instruction platform and continuing with her life coaching.

He's been hailed as a major influence on the seventies punk scene. His guitar skills have been described as "...both demonic and intellectual, almost how you would imagine Darth Vader to sound if he was in a band..."

He's here to talk with May and Cynthia about his new album Re-Licked...join them...live...as they grill James Williamson of The Stooges...live...Monday noon eastern.

I decided to do this show after the amazing time I spent with local band True Soul at the Bucaneer Lounge this past weekend! Myself along with Vonda Gainer decided to see them in their element because they perform at the Bucaneer frequently. You may ask yourself why is she hypeing them and I will tell you it is because PC is sleeping on this local band. I first saw Glenn (lead singer) and someone on guitar over a year ago on I believe it was on Don Arias's show Wakin' up with Don on Fox 28 and he sang Sitting on the dock of the Bay by Wilson Pickett. I loved it! I first caught them live at Fri Fest last year and they had me at Sarah Smile which is one of my all-time favorites. I liked their Facebook page and began to keep up with their schedule. This phenomenial band is local so we don't have to take a ride to see them. They are probably PC's best kept secret! What I do know that this is hard to break into anything areound here. This is a tricky area therefore we have to support one another. Sometimes it is all about connections. True Soul is an awesome band and if you appreciate live music then this is the group for you. Glenn is the lead and has crazy vocals, Street is the drummer and a beast, Perry is on keyboard and a sax, and JC is on guitar. I forgot who is on bass guitar but he is bad too. They sing a wide range of songs and I love how they put their spin on it while still doing the original song justice. I met a young man who I am not going to name right now because you will know about him soon enough but he sang acapella with no warm up out in the cold and I will say this he got next. Stay tuned! On April 17 True Soul will be a Club Deja Vu for the Sir Charles Show! This is huge and some of you who are not familiar with them will get to see. They will be also be a Friday Fest this Friday. So let's support them and any other local acts!

Check out the Offseason discussion of the NY Football Giants with the Bleed Blue Show platform with hosts and stakeholders to have open dialogue with this season in review, off season moves to be had and ways to improve the team from the fan perspective. This episode will touch on the NFL Combine and more emphasis with Free Agency. Off season personnel moves, changes in schemes, free agency, draft, roster adjustments, and transactions as a whole - what are you expecting as a NY Giants fans between now and the NFL Draft. There will be a lot of offseason discussion to be had and can be found right here on the Giants Round Table. Tune into the BleedBlueShow.

Buck Sixx is a country/rock band that stems from generations of family musicians. They all started at an early age playing along with their dads, grandfathers, cousins and uncles. As musicians, they have played with lots of other bands, but the strong family bond has brought them back together to form Buck Sixx. They play original songs written by the band with a blend of Country/Rock. The combination of lyric and music continues to grow the band’s fan base. Brothers, cousins, and Friends they hail from Columbia, Tennessee, just forty miles south of Nashville.. “Buck Sixx’s debut record is one of the strongest freshmen records I’ve ever heard. There truly isn’t a bad song on the record and there isn’t a song that would turn fans off. Buck Sixx successfully showcases who they are as individuals, as a group, as musicians, as vocalists, and as songwriters and it’s a showcase that is uniquely fresh. It’s a package that will allow them to be recognized on many different avenues in the country music industry.” – Thatsmusictome.com

GRAMMY®-nominated vocalists DW3 are brothers Billy & Eric Mondragon and Damon Reel. With the release of their highly-anticipated Woodward Avenue Records debut, Southern California’s premiere R&B, funk and contemporary urban jazz powerhouse DW3 lets the world in on a cool “Vintage Truth” paying tribute to their late drummer Ricky Lawson.

“Vintage Truth” features contributions from a handful of the genre’s superstar performers. Brian Culbertson plays piano on the opening track, the rousing, vocal harmony laden R&B tune “Let The Music.” Paul Brown produced, mixed and contributes his inimitable guitar to “I Can’t Tell You Why,” while Greg Adams lends trumpet and horns to Eric’s original tune “Hold Me,” and Dave Koz infuses his lush sax emotion on “When You Cry.” Before he passed away, legendary GRAMMY®-winning drummer Ricky Lawson, who performed with DW3 in the final two years of his life, co-produced four of the core tracks on “Vintage Truth” with keyboardist Sean Dancy – including “Dance With Me,” “Overjoyed,” “California Dreamin’” and “When You Cry.”

ALIVE TO THRIVE WITH BRENDA FRASER airs every Friday at 12 Noon CST. Join Brenda as she investigates trending topics in Art, Culture, and Film while making timely observations that hit the mark with what today's audiences want to hear!

Three-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum songwriter and musician MIKE HENDERSON of Nashville will be on today. He is a songwriter and musician who has recorded with such artists as Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler, Albert King, Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Lang, Guy Clark, John Hiatt, Sting, Bo Diddley, Tim McGraw, Lucinda Williams, Bob Seeger, Patty Loveless along with many others. Mike most recently recorded with Martina McBride and Blake Shelton. His songs have been recorded by Adele, The Dixie Chicks, Kenny Rogers, Daryl Worley, Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Soloman Burke, Marty Stuart and Randy Travis among others. A frequent visitor to the historic BLUE BIRD CAFE, Mike is one of the BEST GUITARISTS IN THE WORLD.

http://www.mikehenderson.com

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